Edwards' future in KC uncertain

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was almost pointless to ask Herm Edwards about his future at his weekly media briefing Tuesday. After all, the third-year Chiefs coach has no more control over his near-term employment than any other American in this dismal economic climate.

But Edwards knows that change is coming — change that might not be in the best interest of a football coach with a 6-24 record over the past two seasons.

The Chiefs are about to get a new general manager in the wake of the impending resignation of team president/GM Carl Peterson, and new general managers often prefer to start out with a head coach of their own choosing.

And even though Chiefs chairman of the board Clark Hunt on Monday repeated his belief that Edwards was doing the right thing in rebuilding the Chiefs through the draft instead of reloading via free agency — and Hunt had the ultimate say in the coaching decision — he also said his new GM selection would have "significant input" into naming the Chiefs coach in 2009 and beyond.

Edwards was asked Tuesday whether he felt it would be necessary to sell the direction of his program to his new boss.

"That will be something Clark and the new GM will talk about," he said. "I'm not going to sell him on anything. I don't think I have to.

"I'm going to be what I am and coach the team the way I coach," he added. "I think we all agree that this (rebuilding with young players) is the right direction to go. That's why we chose to do it. Did we think it was going to be this painful? No. But I think we all agree that we're going to stay on this course after this season and the years to follow. We're all on the same page. We're not going to change the direction of this organization."

But Edwards clearly is not speaking from a position of strength after last week's two-touchdown defensive collapse in the last 73 seconds of a 22-21 loss to San Diego. And though he has two games — beginning with Sunday's home finale against AFC playoff contender Miami — in which to improve his bottom line, the book on this 2-12 season may already be written.

All except the last chapter, that is.

Is Hunt solidly enough in Edwards' corner that he would urge his new hire to stick with Edwards? Or does he let the new man steer his own course by hiring a new driver?

Historically, the latter option is the road most traveled.

Edwards, who says he believed for some time that Peterson might step down after the current season — one year before the expiration of both his and his coach's contract — knows there is little he can do but keep on keeping on.

"You don't worry about things you can't control," he said. "You just do the best job you can possibly do with the cards you're dealt. You don't worry about anything else. You don't complain; it doesn't do any good. You work. I've never lived my life any other way."